Somerset man sentenced for church burglary

November 05, 2008|By JUDY D.J. ELLICH, Daily American Staff Writer

Kenneth Lee Rose, 26, Somerset, was sentenced to a total of two to six years in state prison for breaking into a church and taking money and for attempting to escape from jail by setting off a fire alarm.

The congregation at Berachah Baptist Church, Romans Road, Somerset Township, may be a little colder this winter because the money Rose took from the safe had been put aside for a new furnace.

Rose pleaded guilty Sept. 25 to both crimes — breaking into the church on Nov. 8 or Nov. 9 and fleeing with $20 and trying to escape from Somerset County Jail June 10 while he was being held on a parole revocation.

“I thought it could have been a longer sentence,” said Billie Lyzbicki, who unofficially works as the church’s secretary. “It was the Lord’s money.”

Advertisement

Pastor Dale A. Lyzbicki agreed.

“It is a sad comment that we have to lock the churches,” he said.

The church treasurer started noticing money being siphoned away in small amounts, he said. The loss eventually became too much and church authorities decided to purchase a video surveillance system. Rose was caught on tape taking money, he said.

Billie Lyzbicki said when they watched the video, they were surprised to see Rose walk straight to the safe before leaving, because no one could remember Rose being a member of the congregation.

Another man has also been charged with taking money from the church — Dennis Vincent Petraline, 54, East Main Street, Somerset.

“That money Mr. Rose took was money we had kept in the church’s safe to buy a furnace,” Billie Lyzbicki said. “The furnace has broken down twice,” she said.

Now, members are starting over again with $600 in the church coffers to be used toward a new furnace that will cost $8,500. They are praying the existing furnace keeps operating, she said.

Rose was sentenced on charges of trespassing and theft. He received nine months to three years in prison for trespassing and two months to a year for theft. The prison time for the offenses will run concurrently. He was given eight days’ credit.

About six months after the incident at the church, Rose escaped from the jail’s work release center by setting off a fire alarm, according to court documents. Rose bolted and after a scuffle in a nearby alley with two correctional officers was apprehended, police said.

“You could have caused someone to be seriously injured,” President John M. Cascio said Wednesday. “It is time to get this under control. I’ll give you the tools, you have to take advantage of them.”

Rose was sentenced to 15 months to three years for escape and six months to two years for simple assault. The prison time for these offenses will run concurrently. However, Rose’s sentences for both crimes are to run consecutively, making for a longer aggregated sentence.

Cascio ordered Rose to pay court fees, a supervisory fee, $600 in fines and $20 in restitution. He must undergo a drug and alcohol assessment and a mental health evaluation and complete any recommended counseling or treatment.